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October 31, 2012

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jill @ Breaking the Spine where you share an upcoming release that you're anticipating on reading.

Days of Blood and Starlight by Laini Taylor
(Daughter of Smoke and Bone #2)
Expected Publication Date: November 6, 2012

Art student and monster's apprentice Karou finally has the answers she has always sought. She knows who she is--and what she is. But with this knowledge comes anoher truth she would give anything to undo: She loved the enemy and he betrayed her, and a world suffered for it.

In this stunning sequel to the highly acclaimed Daughter of Smoke & Bone, Karou must decide how far she'll go to avenge her people. Filled with heartbreak and beauty, secrets and impossible choices, Days of Blood & Starlight finds Karou and Akiva on opposing sides as an age-old war stirs back to life.

While Karou and her allies build a monstrous army in a land of dust and starlight, Akiva wages a different sort of battle: a battle for redemption. For hope. But can any hope be salvaged from the ashes of their broken dream?

Why I'm Waiting?

1. Stunning cover

2. Karou and Akiva, what will make of them?

3. Beautiful, full of life of a world that I want to dive right back into again.

October 30, 2012

“Distract me,” I pleaded, ignoring his question.
His dark eyes flickered to me face, then slowly descended down the rest of my body.
“Ugh, not that kind of distraction,” I groaned, pulling my jacket around me. “Don't you have the slightest trace of common decency?” Page 78*

---

As our lips collided, I was pulled deep into his world. Or, perhaps, he was drawn into mine.

Whatever the case, we melted together, our bodies contouring perfectly to one another. [...] I kissed him with every fiber of my being, committing to memory the cool, hard sensation of his mouth against mine; memorizing the path his fingers made along my skin as they travelled over the curve of my jaw, sliding down my neck, shoulders, side, all the way to the small my of back. Page 167*

---

And my favorite line ever-

He'd grown on me, gradually and quietly; entrapping me in the type of unusual fondness that happens without one realizing it's actually occurring. Page 266*

*quotes taken from a Beta read and is subject to change

[...] - redacted due to possible spoiler

***

Doesn't the first one just make you wanna..

And the second one is basically just..

But minus the bed and add in a fountain

x)

And the last one..

*sighs* *smiles contentedly*

-And those gifs are brought to you by my current obsession with Gray's Anatomy.

Something has always felt slightly off in Meghan's life, ever since her father disappeared before her eyes when she was six. She has never quite fit in at school or at home.

When a dark stranger begins watching her from afar, and her prankster best friend becomes strangely protective of her, Meghan senses that everything she's known is about to change.

But she could never have guessed the truth - that she is the daughter of a mythical faery king and is a pawn in a deadly war. Now Meghan will learn just how far she'll go to save someone she cares about, to stop a mysterious evil no faery creature dare face; and to find love with a young prince who might rather see her dead than let her touch his icy heart.

My thoughts.

Meghan Chase, our sweet and courageous protagonist.

Smart and unselfish, this girl stumbles upon a world that has always been hidden from her. She takes this all in with stride to save her younger brother, Ethan, and comes out a stronger, more confidant and admirable character. When once she seemed weak, now it seems like she could do anything.

Puck and Ash, the two that tore my heart in two and made it their own.

Witty and playful vs. dark and brooding; These two characters are opposites, but when they are together they're magnificent. Both are handsome and both are alluring and both managed to make me fall for them uninhibitedly. I love Puck’s ability to make me laugh and Ash’s ability to make my heart flutter.

Romance. And oh how lovely it is.

The blooming and forbidden romance between Meghan and Ash is sweet and a breath of fresh air. I loved watching them fall in love and care for one another despite the feuds of their courts. It broke my heart to watch something that is so beautiful, but so fragile. Their love is doomed from the start and it’s obvious being together is not going to be easy, but being apart is even worse.

The Neverever, how I wish you were real.

This is where Julie Kagawa excels at. She creates a world that is well developed from the sky to the ground to the creatures, their powers, the courts, and the food. The Nevernever is magical, surreal, frightening and intimidating, but fascinating and alluring. It truly is otherwordly. I love how vivid and descriptive Kagawa makes of the Nevernever. I could almost imagine being there, smelling the fresh woodsy air of the Wyldwoods, taste the sweet faery wine, and feel the power radiating off of ever corner. The Nevernever is a world that only exists in our dreams, but is alive and real in this story.

Kagawa’s exceptional writing captivates.

The Iron King is a fast-paced adventure. There’s a great climax and an even better resolution with more to come in the following books. Kagawa’s writing is flawlessly superb. It’s smooth, eye-catching and breath-taking. She’s capable of keeping the reader riveted and bringing out the high emotions of the characters and placing them with the reader in each moment.

Overall, The Iron King is one enchanting read. It’s surely a book I could go back to time and time again. Julie Kagawa doesn’t just exceed expectations, but she delivers.

October 26, 2012

Hi guys! I'm here to reveal the awesome cover of Embers in a Dark Frost by Kelly Keaton! Big thanks to Damaris from Good Choice Reading for hosting and including me in this cover reveal! So make sure to check this cover and this book out and let me know what you think..

The Fire Breathers have come. The Underworld calls. A choice must be made…

With her feared half blood and flame-colored hair, DEIRA D'ANU is a constant reminder of human betrayal and the war that claimed the light from Innis Fail. Now, darkness and frost creep across the land, strengthening the Lord of the Underworld. War is imminent—an allegiance with the Fire Breathers is vital. When their champion, Balen, sees Deira, he believes she is the key to finding the light and stopping the dark frost.

But the Underworld calls to Deira, tempting her to turn her back on a world that never cared and betray the champion willing to sacrifice everything to keep her safe and save his world from darkness.

ME: Isn't is awesomesauce?! It's definitely got that eerie dark vibe going on that really calls to you. The background is creepy. Her red hair and the red font of "Embers" really pops. I looooove it. I'm dying to read all about Deira!

About the Author:

Kelly is a multi-published author with six novels currently in print. She writes the YA series, Gods & Monsters (Simon & Schuster), and the Charlie Madigan series (Pocket Books), which are written as Kelly Gay. She is a two-time RITA nominee, an ARRA nominee, a Goodreads Choice Award finalist, and has landed on the Southern Independent Bookseller's Alliance's Book Awards Long List and their Okra Picks List. Kelly is also a three-time Golden Heart Finalist and a recipient of North Carolina Arts Council's fellowship grant in Literature.

On the personal side, Kelly loves ancient history, fantasy, and mythology. She dreams of one day attaining magical powers, discovering the secret to immortality, ridding her home of pet hair, and being crowned Mardi-Gras queen. She likes pre-Raphaelite art, moonlight on snow, and RPGs. She lives in North Carolina with her family, one Great Dane, and two incredibly hairy cats.

Stacking the Shelves is hosted by Tynga's Reviews where you can share books obtained via the bookstore, the library, online, through trade, borrowed from friends, gifted and/or received for review that you're adding to your shelf.

No vlog today, sorry!

(pssst, if you click on the cover/picture of the books it'll take you to the Goodreads page!)

October 25, 2012

My best friend was more than just a best friend to me. Three words summed it up: I heart him. I’d never tell him though. I wasn’t stupid. Besides, what he’d told no one, but me, was a little something I wished I could forget… or ignore. He was gay. I guess gay wouldn’t be bad if I wasn’t so in love with him. Now it was just cruel.

Stereotypes run amok in this college love story: Parties, alcohol, hookups, and breakups. Alexandria Carmichael may find it a bit much as she deals with the unreturned love from the boy who completes her. When all is revealed, not only does she risk losing her best friend forever, but also herself. Without her childhood companion for support, Alexandria takes a journey of self-discovery but fears what she’ll find at the end.

My Review

I Loved You First by Reena Jacobs was about a girl in love with her best friend. The problem of this situation? Her best friend is gay. This isn’t your everyday unrequited love story.

Alex - the best friend anyone could have

To be honest, I didn’t quite connect with Alex until later on in the book. I sympathized with her because I know the pain and heartache she felt. To be in love with someone who doesn’t love you back is really hard. I liked Alex’s tough exterior and how she can hide her pain well. She’s a tough girl. However, I was disappointed in the fact that she kept herself in the shadow of Seth. She centers everything around him, letting him drag her along to places she doesn’t really want to go to. I understand she wants to be close to Seth, but half the time I was annoyed at her inability to step away. Some of the bad decisions she makes in I Loved You First really frustrated me as well. However, Alex really redeems herself because she finally started to understand Seth’s situation. She becomes just Alex, and she finds herself. She was able to finally get out of Seth’s shadow. Even through all the mess she and Seth went through, I cannot deny that Alex was a great friend.

Seth - the boy Alex has a one-sided love for.

Charming as he was, I really did not like Seth. Besides this one part in the book, I thought Seth treated Alex badly. I saw him as a moody guy who didn’t really appreciate Alex’s friendship or company. Seth was going through some hard times, yes, but the problem was me not being able to connect with him at all. He was so detached after the incident and was a jerk before and after.

It was already obvious that Alex and Seth were never going to move beyond friendship. Despite the circumstances, I was still rooting for Alex and Seth to be together even though I knew it just wasn’t going to happen. Even through all the ups and downs Alex and Seth went through, I felt they had some chemistry going on. The best thing about I Loved You First is the power Reena Jacobs had at wanting me to root for these two characters. Although I didn’t particularly like Seth as much as I should, I still wanted these two to have a happy ending. In a way, both these characters get there closing and the book ends on a nice note filled with hope and possibilities.

As much as I wanted to love this story, I can only say that I liked it. I was disappointed in some of the situations that went down with Seth and then later on with Alex’s feelings. I was expecting to be hit with a boatload of emotions, but it didn’t happen. I felt like it all went so fast. I didn’t really know where the story was going until I got to the last few chapters and I thought everything that happened with Alex and Dink was unnecessary. Despite this, I was still invested into the story and I enjoyed Reena Jacobs‘ smooth writing. It was realistic, thought provoking, and inspiring.

Overall, I Loved You First is a good read. It’s definitely not just a book about romance, but one about discovery, moving on, and acceptance. It also addresses the issues of homosexuality and the prejudices one faces.

October 23, 2012

If you don't already know, I'm a big-huge-mega fan of Ada Adams and the Angel Creek series so it's thrill for me to host this blog tour with Tiffany @ Escaping One Book at a Time!

The tour will kick off November 20 and will be followed for one month long, until December 20 right before it hits Christmas! There will be a variety of posts for anyone's enjoyment from interviews to reviews to guest posts to giveaways and more! So when this tour kicks off, I hope you guys follow along :)

Below is the current possible stops that will be updated daily and will be the main post to refer to during the tour. If you think your blog should be on this tour, email me - xjessirae.pa@live.com

Ember operates on a no-touch policy with all living things--including boys. When Hayden Cromwell shows up, quoting Oscar Wilde and claiming her curse is a gift, she thinks he's a crazed cutie. But when he tells her he can help control it, she's more than interested. There's just one catch: Ember has to trust Hayden's adopted father, a man she's sure has sinister reasons for collecting children whose abilities even weird her out.

However, she's willing to do anything to hold her sister's hand again. And hell, she'd also like to be able to kiss Hayden. Who wouldn't? But when Ember learns the accident that turned her into a freak may not have been an accident at all, she's not sure who to trust. Someone wanted her dead, and the closer she gets to the truth, the closer she is to losing not only her heart, but her life. For real this time.

My Review

Jennifer L. Armentrout does not disappoint, in fact, she continues to impress me with her superb writing. I’m always in awe at the way she can easily make me fall in love with her books. Like the others I have read by her, Cursed became an instant favorite. She weaves a story with a paranormal touch full of mystery, uncertainty and a romance that had me on my knees begging for more.

Ember was definitely my favorite in the book. She’s one character I admire so much. Ember was unselfish, caring and a great sister. She astounded me with her ability to take care of her five year old sister at such a young age without no help at all. She was willing to do anything to protect and provide for Olivia. Not only was she forced to grow up quickly, Ember is also taunted and made fun at school on a daily basis. To top that all off, Ember cannot touch anyone for fear of killing them with her touch. Ember becomes a social outcast and one sad girl in all of two years. Even through all this mess, Ember is a fighter; physically, mentally and emotionally. When she and Olivia are taken to be among the other gifted, Ember learns more about the accident and finds a way to get to the bottom of things. She was determined and relentless. By the end of the book, Ember embraces her power and realizes what she can do is not a curse, but a gift. What I love is how Ember gained confidence and belief in herself where she no longer saw herself as a freak. I saw Ember transform right before my eyes and I loved that so damn much.

Hayden was another joy to read about in this book. He was a fabulous character in and out. He had this odd, but flattering protectiveness towards Ember that I found too cute to resist. For me, Hayden was dark and alluring, but he was also kind and brought in the sweet and even humorous moments into the book. I just loved his overall personality. He believed in Ember when no else did and he kept encouraging when no one else could. His relationship with Ember turns into an honest and emotionally-packed romance that shot straight through my heart. Their romance was intense and the type where it felt like you had to walk on eggshells all the time because of the danger and harm both can bring to each other. Ember and Hayden both had building tension and passion with longing and yearning thrown into the mix, but their romance was also sweet and sigh-worthy.

From the beginning, I was drawn to the story. I loved the idea of these people having powers gathered together to control and use them for good. I enjoyed knowing more about the other gifted living under the Cromwell house and I liked that each person had different powers. The best part was seeing how each struggled. They all had their dark pasts and secrets in life; struggling to become a better person. The mystery in this book, although slightly predictable, was well thought-out. I ended up figuring out who was behind everything, but I thought it tied any loose ends and it certainly didn’t take away any enjoyment or love I had for this book. Even with the predictability, there was a build up of anticipation for that big moment and when I got there I felt like I was going to burst. So much goes on in this book, you’ll be entertained more ways than one.

Overall, Cursed was a splendid novel! Armentrout exceeded my expectations and she gave me a book that I throughly enjoyed and plan on reliving all over again. With incredible wit, a storyline that grabs attention and a heart-warming ending, Cursed will feed the continuous JLA addiction we all have!

Rereading books is a rare thing for me, unless the book has that magic.. where right when I finish I want to reread it again right away OR I have to reread the book because it's a part of a series and I just need to remember what happened to refresh my memory.

October 19, 2012

Stacking the Shelves is hosted by Tynga's Reviews where you can share books obtained via the bookstore, the library, online, through trade, borrowed from friends, gifted and/or received for review that you're adding to your shelf.

Ananna of the Tanarau abandons ship when her parents try to marry her off to an allying pirate clan: she wants to captain her own boat, not serve as second-in-command to her handsome yet clueless fiance. But her escape has dire consequences when she learns the scorned clan has sent an assassin after her.

And when the assassin, Naji, finally catches up with her, things get even worse. Ananna inadvertently triggers a nasty curse — with a life-altering result. Now Ananna and Naji are forced to become uneasy allies as they work together to break the curse and return their lives back to normal. Or at least as normal as the lives of a pirate and an assassin can be.

My thoughts, feelings, and reactions.

Nothing could have prepared me for what I read in The Assassin’s Curse. It’s not the type of book I would initially get, but one I was so happy to. And let me tell you, Cassandra Rose Clarke takes a story about a pirate and an assassin to a whole other level.

Ananna - the pirate

I loved this girl to bits. Ananna was such a tough main character. I didn’t think this girl had a weak bone in her body. She was daring and courageous, running off doing what she wanted to do even if she had no set plans. She wasn’t afraid to break a few rules. She knew what she wanted and she was determined to make it happen. Ananna was not necessarily fearless, but she was brave in the sense that she faced her fear head on. I loved that she stood her ground and she literally fought back. Ananna has many talents being a pirate, from pick-pocketing, to handling a sword and knife and to having the ability to survive by herself at such a young age. The best part of Ananna was humor she brought even during the serious and dangerous parts of the book.

Naji- the assassin

The man with an attractive, but scarred face and many secrets. I loved Naji in and out. With his aloof, but cunning demeanor, Naji was one puzzle that was not meant to be figured out. He doesn’t say much, but he’s strong and powerful. Not much is divulged about him, but that’s beauty of his personality. Everything that I did find out about him has allowed me to adore him even more. He’s not the type to trust so easily especially with all the death he’s seen in his lifetime. And lthough he was this dark and very intimidating man, he was still caring and protective. Naji knew the meaning of honor and loyalty and that made him much more admirable in my eyes. Even when Naji was cold, I found his expressions and the way he interacted with Ananna very endearing.

The adventure, the world and action.

The Assassin’s Curse was one big, entertaining journey. Ananna and Naji go off to look for a way to break this curse, meet new people along the way, and end up going to different places and encountering many threats and dangers along the way. From Lisirra to the desert to Port Iskassaya and to the Isles of the Sky, each place is vibrant and described with great clarity. The world that Clarke has built up in this book is amazing. There is definitely an Arabian feel to the setting with camels and busy markets that have vendors harassing you. There are horses and land-ships and boats filled with pirates and an island floating above the water that give it a slight twist. Clarke does an astounding job of taking the reader and placing them within this book. The Assassin’s Curse had a pace that was quick and fun. From the start, something exciting was happening and it continued to get more and more entertaining throughout the book. There’s plenty of action from physical fighting with swords and knives and even magic that uses blood and odd items for spells. It was fascinating and I loved all of it.

With an unlikely duo working together against other pirates, assassins and stronger magical forces, Cassandra Rose Clarke creates one engaging novel. I’m anxiously awaiting for the next adventure Ananna and Naji will take me on.

*Thanks to Strange Chemistry and Netgalley for sending me a copy for review

When Ruby woke up on her tenth birthday, something about her had changed. Something frightening enough to make her parents lock her in the garage and call the police. Something that gets her sent to Thurmond, a brutal government “rehabilitation camp.” She might have survived the mysterious disease that’s killed most of America’s children, but she and the others have been cursed with something far worse: frightening abilities they cannot control.

Now sixteen, Ruby has spent nearly half her life desperately trying to hide the fact that she’s outwitted the camp’s sorting system—that she isn’t powerless, or safe. She’s one of the dangerous ones… and everyone knows what happens to them.

When the truth comes out, Ruby barely escapes Thurmond with her life. Now she’s on the run, desperate to find the one safe haven left for kids like her—East River. She joins a group of teens who escaped their own camp, pursued along the way by terrifying bounty hunters. Liam, their brave leader, is falling hard for Ruby. But no matter how much she aches for him, Ruby can’t risk getting close to him. Not after what happened to her parents.

When they arrive at East River, nothing is as it seems, least of all its mysterious leader. But there are other forces at work, people who will stop at nothing to use Ruby in their fight against the government. Before the end, Ruby will be faced with a terrible choice, one that may mean giving up her only chance at a life worth living.

Why I'm waiting?

I really want to know all about this "change" that Ruby goes through and this disease that kill the children. I also want more insight on these abilities! To top it all off, I hope to find out how exactly Ruby outwits the camp and how she eventually escapes Thurmond. The Darkest Minds sounds like an adventure I'm just dying to get sucked into. And I can't deny that I'm itching to read all about the romance with Liam and Ruby <33

October 16, 2012

"Like what?" I slammed my fork down on the table and pushed my plate away. "Like she's ruining my life?" I knew how melodramatic it sounded, what a ridiculous thing it was to say, but that ugly, gnawing fear was working away at my insides. All this sudden change was giving me emotional whiplash. page 32.

October 14, 2012

Hey lovelies! Welcome to the Name That Book Extravaganza! We're helping out Ali Cross name the last book in the Desolation series! Each blog participating in this scavenger hunt will have their own awesome post to share with you. So join in the fun, vote and win some awesome prizes!

DESI POV.

Desi Before.

I’d seen the shows. Listened to the music. I’d seen myself in the mirror.

I could be one of them.

One of the laughing, smiling, summershine girls. One of hand-holding, secret-sharing, friends.

Because they have something I never will. They—those girls on TV, in the movies, singing their hearts out—live. They know good and bad, happy and sad.

Me? I know Hell.

I know training.

Every day it’s the same—work with Akaros in the training room. Try, desperately, to best him. To crush him. Try, desperately, to hide my secret.

Every day I try.

Then it’s training—with Father in the throne room. Where I try, without effort, to emulate him. To be fierce. Try, without effort, to be the daughter Lucifer, my father, wants me to be.

Those girls—they have it all.

Me? I have Hell.

---

Me: What did you think of that?! ;)

Vote for your title choice for Book 3:

Divine, Chosen, and Destined

Mock-up for the last book
(Not the final cover)

You can vote once a day, but you can only choose one title. The mock-up cover above is to give you idea on what title to pick. The title winner and everyone who voted for that title will win all three books from Ali Cross (in ebook format). Don't walk.. RUN and VOTE NOW!

Sixteen-year old Desolation Black wants nothing more than to stay in Hell where it's cold and lonely and totally predictable. Instead, she's sent back to Earth where she must face the evil she despises and the good she always feared.

When Desi is forced to embrace her inner demon, she assumes her choice has been made--that she has no hope of being anything other than what her father, Lucifer, has created her to be. What she doesn't count on, is finding a reason to change--something she's never had before--a friend.

Desolate by Ali Cross (Desolation #2)
Publication Date: July 3, 2012

Where darkness lives, all becomes desolate . . .

It's been two months since sixteen-year-old Desolation Black chose Earth over Hell and her friend Miri over her eternal love, Michael.

Desi goes through the motions of life: school, training, remaining vigilant against the forces of darkness, but her dreams are full of the choices she wishes she could change. When she's injured by a strange demon, old temptations arise, and the lines between good and evil blur. Desi discovers those choices aren't so final after all.

And this time, the power of love--for a friend, for a lover--may not be enough to save her from the darkness that lurks within.

About the Author:
Ali Cross is the sensei of the Writer's Dojo where she holds a black belt in awesome. She lives in Utah with her kickin' husband, two sparring sons, one ninja cat, two sumo dogs and four zen turtles.

October 13, 2012

It's week 3 here on the Book Buzzers group, which is amazing! Three weeks have gone by already and so far this has been a blast. Thanks so much for watching my video, but also for following along with the other videos as well. Hope you continue along the way :)

October 12, 2012

Stacking the Shelves is hosted by Tynga's Reviews where you can share books obtained via the bookstore, the library, online, through trade, borrowed from friends, gifted and/or received for review that you're adding to your shelf.

October 5, 2012

Stacking the Shelves is hosted by Tynga's Reviews where you can share books obtained via the bookstore, the library, online, through trade, borrowed from friends, gifted and/or received for review that you're adding to your shelf.

Review Requests

I am temporarily closing up my review requests for the time being.

About Me

Jessirae is the name.

Book Lover/Blogger/Reviewer magnifico with a growing love for Young Adult, New Adult and Adult books that may occasionally be devoured in between. A public health graduate who is obssessed with reading books and blasting her iPod to maximum for intense music listening and who constantly keeps track of her favorite TV shows. A certified Arizona Green Tea addict with a heart's desire to claim Jared Lynburn as her own personal book boyfriend. Lover of all things chocolate, candy and sugary sweets. I never back down from a fight, but would rather stay in to read a good book than party hard any day.I say, if it looks good, read it!